Dispensing caps for collapsible tubes



Nov. 27, 1956 L. E. CHIRCOP DISPENSING CAPS FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Nov. l0, 1954 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent O DISPENSING CAPS FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Lawrence E. Chircop, Mount Clemens, Mich.

Application November 10, 1954, Serial No. 468,021

1 Claim. (Cl. 222-92) My improvement pertains to caps adapted for use with collapsible tubes containing tooth paste, shaving cream, lotions, and similar commodities which are to be dispensed at intervals and in small quantities.

The object of my improvement is to provide a cap which, once applied to a tube, will not have to be removed until the contents of the tube have been exhausted, but which will include means for release of the contents of the tube or for blocking such release, as desired.

A more specific object of the improvement is to provide a cap having no parts which will have to be detached for the purpose of releasing the contents of said tube.

A further object of the improvement is to provide a dispensing cap having a radially-extending spout and a crown thereabove, this structure making it possible to operate the cap without touching the spout at that portion which is provided with an outlet port for the contents of the tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing cap including a rotary closure which is provided with means for locking the closure in one of the selective operative positions, specifically, either in a dispensing position or in a closed position.

l shall now describe my improvement with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the dispensing cap as applied to the upper portion of a collapsible tube;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the cap with parts broken off in order to disclose the manner of connection of the cap to said collapsible tube;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 4 -4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is also a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, the View disclosing elements of the cap in different operative positions than those shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View of the cap without a rotary closure which is normally seated thereon;

Fig. 6 is a modified species of the cap as applied to a collapsible tube;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a collapsible tube with a dispensing neck for use with a rotary closure as improved by me.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The. dispensing cap of my invention consists of three principal elements, a base 10, a neck 11, and a circular cylindrical closure 29 in a telescopic engagement with the neck. The base, in its preferred form, has the shape of a solid disk the undersurface of which is depressed into a funnel-like form, as shown at 12, to conform with the top portion 13 of a conventional collapsible tube 14. The funnel-like formation terminates with an axially-disposed socket 15. The socket is threaded internally and opens into an axial bore 16 of a restricted diameter. It will be notedrthat the diameter of the base is substantially the same as that 0f the tube 14, and that the outer surface of the base is knurled for a better manual grip thereon.

Rising axially from the base is said tubular neck 11 2,772,027 Patented Nov. 2'?, 1956 which is closed at the top by a cross-wall 17 but which has an outlet port 18 in its side wall and opens, at its lower end, into said bore 16. It is said neck which is also provided with a double bayonet slot 19. The slot, as shown in Fig. 5, has the shape of an inverted letter U, including a transverse groove 20 and two downwardly-extending legs 21 and 21a, respectively, the legs being in a spaced relation to each other. The slot, as a whole, has the form of a depression or recess in the body of the neck, without penetrating said wall.

Telescopically iitting over said neck is a closure 29, including a cylindrical skirt portion 22 and a at crown 23 of a diameter exceeding that of the skirt. The latter is of such a length that when axially seated upon said neck its lower rim 24 will touch or will closely come to the upper surface of base 10. Radially extending from v the closure is a spout 25 provided With a duct 26.

Located in the wall of the closure, in a position diametrically opposed to said spout, is a pin 27 which projects inwardly from said wall into the slot 19. Normally, the position of the closure on said neck is such that the pin will t into the lower portion of one of the legs 21 or 21a of the slot 19, as shown in Fig. 2.

The closure, as already mentioned, is capable of a limited rotary movement about the axis of the neck to the extent permitted by the length of the transverse groove 20 of the slot. By reason of the structure, the closure may be brought either in register with the outlet port 18 in said neck, as shown in Fig. 4, or out of register therewith, as shown in Fig. 3.

Attention is invited to the fact that the crown 23 of the closure is cut off along a line 28, that is, along the line of a chord with respect to the circumference of said crown.

The species of the dispensing cap shown in Fig. 6 differs from the cap shown in the preceding figures of the drawings only in this respect-that the base 30 of the cap is just large enough to contain a threaded socket for application to the top portion 31 of the collapsible tube 32. Otherwise, the cap is identical with that shown in said preceding figures of the drawings.

The drawing shown in Fig. 7 discloses the upper portion of a collapsible tube 40 with an integrally-formed neck 41 which is provided with a U-shaped slot 42. The neck is, in all respects, like the neck 11 shown in Fig. 1, and is adapted for use with a rotary closure identical with the closure 29 shown in Fig. l. The difference lies in the fact that said neck 41 is a part of the tube and not a part of a removable cap as shown in other figures of the drawings.

The manner in which the dispensing cap may be used is quite obvious. The dispensing cap is applied over the conventional threaded dispensing end of a conventional collapsible tube in place of a small cap which serves as a closure for the orifice of the tube.

It will now be assumed that the rotary closure of my cap will be in a closed position. This means that the lower rim of the closure will be in touch, or almost so, with the upper surface of the base 10, that the pin 27 will be within the lower portion of leg 21 of the slot 19, and that the spout will be out of register with the outlet port in the neck 11. This position is shown in Fig. 3.

Assuming now that a quantity of the contents of the tube is to be squeezed out, the base 10 is held by the fingers of one hand when the closure 29 will be pulled outwardly, that is, away from the base 10, then turned about the axis of the tube in the direction of an arrow, the pin moving toward the other leg 21a. Thereupon, the closure will be pushed towards the base 10 until the pin will reach the lower portion of the last-named leg 21a. This change of the position of the closure will bring the inner duct of the spout in register with the outlet in the neck 11, as shown in Fig. 4.

In order to close the outlet, the movement of the closure will be reversed and the closure will be returned to the initial position described herein.

The closure may be operated hy means of the crown alone, so that the spout need not be touched by hand, the cut-off portion of the crown affording space for use of a linger above the upper surface of the spout 25.

After having described my improvement, what I Wish to claim is as follows :V Y

A dispensing cap for collapsible tubes, the Vcap comprising aY base having a threaded socket therein for application to the orice portion of a collapsible tube the base being of a diameter equal to that of the tube, a tubular neck axially rising from the base and opening at thelower end into the socket of the base, but being closed at the top, the neck having in its side Wall -an outlet port and having in said Wall, in a diametrical position to said port, a slot in the shape of an inverted letter U, a cylindrical closure telescopically seated over the neck, the closure being provided with a radially-extending spout, the spout being normally out of register with said outlet port, but being adapted to be brought, into register Ytherewith by a partly rotary movement of the closure about the' axis of said neck, and an integrally-formed crown at the top of the closure, the crownbeing of a diameter in excess of that of the closure, but having a portion cut 0E on Va line of chord above the said spout.

- 'References Cited'in the le of this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTSY Bogeaus et al. Nov. 16, 1954 

